Computer system and usage method thereof

Abstract

A computer system having a verification system for verifying whether or not disks are being used in an unauthorized manner comprises a plurality of computers each capable of being loaded with a disk storing application programs, and an authentication server capable of being connected with the computers via a network, wherein each computer has a unique device ID, each disk has a unique disk ID, and the server has a user database for accumulating the device ID when using the computer and the disk ID when using the disk, such that data is accumulated in the user database in pairs of disk ID and device ID. In the event of using the disk for the second time or subsequent times, data for the disk ID and data for the device ID are transmitted from the computer to the host server, thereby verifying at the host server that the usage is valid.

1. A network system, comprising:
 a first information processing apparatus having a user interface for receiving input including a password from a user and for providing output to the user; and 
 a second information processing apparatus including a database, said second information processing apparatus capable of being connected to the first information processing apparatus via a network, 
 wherein the second information processing apparatus is operable to receive first identification information, and second identification information and the password over the network from the first information processing apparatus, the first identification information identifying at least one of the first information processing apparatus or a user of the first information processing apparatus, the second identification information identifying a program stored on a recording medium coupled to the first information processing apparatus, the second information processing apparatus being operable to verify whether the received first and second identification information and the password match data stored in the database, such that when the first identification information does not match the data stored in the database, and when the second identification information matches the data stored in the database and a password inputted by the user at the first information processing apparatus is valid, the second information processing apparatus permits the first information processing apparatus to execute the program. 
 
   
   
     2. A network system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first identification information includes a user ID identifying the user. 
   
   
     3. A network system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first identification information includes a device ID identifying the first information processing apparatus. 
   
   
     4. A network system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the device ID is unique to the first information processing apparatus. 
   
   
     5. A method of remotely authorizing execution of a program stored on a recording medium, comprising:
 receiving first identification information and second identification information at a second information processing apparatus from a first information processing apparatus via a network, the first identification information identifying at least one of the first information processing apparatus or a user of the first information processing apparatus, the second identification information identifying a program stored on a recording medium coupled to the first information processing apparatus; 
 determining (a) whether the first and second identification information match data stored in a database at the second information processing apparatus, and (b) whether the second identification information matches data stored in the database and a password inputted by the user at the first information processing apparatus is valid, when the first identification information is determined not to match the data stored in the database; and 
 when the first identification information is determined not to match the data stored in the database, and the second identification information is determined to match the data stored in the database and the password inputted by the user at the first information processing apparatus is valid, permitting the first information processing apparatus to execute the program. 
 
   
   
     6. A method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the first identification information includes a user ID identifying the user. 
   
   
     7. A method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the first identification information includes a device ID identifying the first information processing apparatus. 
   
   
     8. A method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the device ID is unique to the first information processing apparatus. 
   
   
     9. A computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions being executable by a computer to perform a method of remotely permitting execution of a program stored on a recording medium, the method comprising:
 receiving first identification information and second identification information at a second information processing apparatus from a first information processing apparatus via a network, the first identification information identifying at least one of the first information processing apparatus or a user of the first information processing apparatus, the second identification information identifying a program stored on a recording medium coupled to the first information processing apparatus; 
 determining (a) whether the first and second identification information match data stored in a database at the second information processing apparatus, and (b) whether the second identification information matches data stored in the database and a password inputted by the user at the first information processing apparatus is valid, when the first identification information is determined not to match the data stored in the database; and 
 when the first identification information is determined not match the data stored in the database, and the second identification information is determined to match the data stored in the database and the password inputted by the user at the first information processing apparatus is valid, permitting the first information processing apparatus to execute the program. 
 
   
   
     10. A second information processing apparatus capable of being connected through a network to a first information processing apparatus, the second information processing apparatus comprising a database and being operable to receive a password inputted by a user at the first information processing apparatus and first identification information and second identification information over the network from the first information processing apparatus, the first identification information identifying at least one of the first information processing apparatus or a user of the first information processing apparatus, the second identification information identifying a program stored on a recording medium coupled to the first information processing apparatus, and verify whether the received first and second identification information and the password match data stored in the database,
 such that when the first identification information does not match the data stored in the database, and when each of the second identification information and the password matches the data stored in the database, the second information processing apparatus permits the first information processing apparatus to execute the program. 
 
   
   
     11. A network system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein when each of the first and second identification information matches the data stored in the database, the second information processing apparatus permits the first information processing apparatus to execute the program. 
   
   
     12. A method as claimed in  claim 5  further comprising:
 when each of the first and second identification information is determined to match the data stored in the database, permitting the first information processing apparatus to execute the program. 
 
   
   
     13. A computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:
 when each of the first and second identification information is determined to match the data stored in the database, permitting the first information processing apparatus to execute the program. 
 
   
   
     14. A second information processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein when each of the first and second identification information matches the data stored in the database, the second information processing apparatus permits the first information processing apparatus to execute the program.